I'm scared...

What could be scarier than Zucchini Pie? LOWFAT Zucchini Pie! These recipes totally freak me out... but I think I might try them! :0

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705333246/Cream-pie-a-good-use-for-zucchini.html

Check out the whole story...

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705333242/Pastry-chefs-dos-and-doughnts-at-Lion-House-Bakery.html

Kristina's recipe for "Sassy Orange Brownies"

SASSY ORANGE BROWNIES with TANGY ORANGE BALSAMIC FROSTING

Nonstick cooking spray or butter

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/2 cup cocoa powder (Extra Brut, 100 Percent Cacao)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup pumpkin

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

Zest of 1 orange

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray or butter square 8-by-8-inch glass pan.

In a large heat-proof bowl over double boiler, or simmering pan of water, melt butter and cocoa powder until smooth. Add brown and granulated sugar and stir together. Remove from heat. In a small separate bowl, combine egg and pumpkin. Temper pumpkin mixture by stirring in a little of the warm chocolate mixture. Then combine it with the rest of the chocolate mixture. Add vanilla extract. Stir in flour until combined. Mix in chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and orange zest.

Pour mixture into prepared pan, smoothing out batter. Place in oven 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Tangy Orange Balsamic Frosting:

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Peel from 1/2 orange, in large strips

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup cream cheese

2 tablespoons melted butter

Orange zest from 1/2 orange

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon plus 2 teaspoons cocoa powder

Simmer balsamic vinegar, orange peel and brown sugar in small pan, until it reduces in volume and forms a syrup. Take 1 1/2 teaspoons of this balsamic reduction for the frosting; store remainder for future use.

In a large bowl, whisk together cream cheese, butter, and orange zest from half an orange. Add juice and vanilla. Stir in 1/2 cup at a time of the powdered sugar, until mixture is smooth.

Divide frosting evenly in two bowls. In one bowl, add 2 teaspoons cocoa powder and stir until combined. In second bowl, add yellow and red food coloring to turn frosting orange. Frost brownies in 1-inch horizontal stripes, alternating between the 2 frostings. Run a blunt knife through layers of frosting several times to make decorative peaks. Cut into 9 large brownies or 12 smaller brownies.

— Kristina Fox of Salt Lake City, Big Brownie Bake-off

Kristina's "Sassy Orange Brownies"!

Funny, my brownies are never "sassy." They just do everything they are told, never say a word, then sit there and sulk! lol ;)
A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Kristina! You will have to make the brownies and bring them to our next big event! :)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705331787/Cooking-up-blue-ribbon-cuisine.html

Summer salads! :)

It's not too late for summer salads! I noticed Smith's still had berries on sale last weekend.
So easy and yummy: simply top fresh baby spinach leaves with various fruit (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, halved green or red grapes, blueberries) and feta cheese. Cashews also add nicely to the mix.
Dressing: oil and vinegar or my personal favorite, non-fat Maple Valley Honey Dijon.

Zucchini Season!

YAY! I love squash! Here is my mom's excellent recipe for Zucchini Casserole:

3 medium zucchini

1 ½ lbs. Hamburger

1 lb. Grated cheese

1 onion

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

½ cup milk

Crumbled soda crackers

Peel, dice and boil zucchini. Brown hamburger. Spread squash in 13 x 9 glass casserole dish. Layer meat on top. Sprinkle on grated cheese. Mix milk and soup, then pour on top. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs. Bake at 300 degrees for 40 to 60 minutes.

Some interesting variations: turkey instead of hamburger; add Italian seasoning to meat; top with Macaroni and Cheese; then crumbled club crackers and dried Parmesan cheese; grill zucchini instead of boiling; broccoli and cheddar cheese soup.

Other things to do with zucchini: brush with olive oil or Italian salad dressing, sprinkle with garlic salt, lemon and pepper or Italian seasoning, grill. Serve with:

Sweet BBQ Chicken: marinate chicken breasts in Hawain marinade for half hour. Put on grill for 10 minutes. Turn over. Brush honey bbq sauce on top. Grill 5 more minutes or until done.

Serve with spinach leaves topped with feta cheese and red grapes. YUM!

zucchini recipes!

Just in time! :) I have three green zucchini, one yellow and a spaghetti squash!

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705330289/The-zucchini-invasion.html

Recipe idea Web site

I haven't tried this out yet but it could be interesting. You list what ingredients you have in your fridge and it tries to find a recipe for you. Hmmm....
http://ow.ly/ptlS

Kristina's Award Winning Brownies! :)

My friend Kristina won FIRST PLACE in the Utah State Fair for her brownies! We will post her recipe soon! :)